For new parents, there can be many fears surrounding the changes a child will bring. But, nothing is more terrifying than the first few nights before, during, and after a birth. Especially as a first-time parent. Add varying levels of medical expenses, limited and unpaid time off, and physical recovery for the mother… It’s no wonder parents are over-stressed! And that’s with no complications. Denise Stern, founder/owner of Let Mommy Sleep, experienced all the above in 2009 when her twin girls were born. One year after her son. On top of that, she also experienced birth complications which left her in fragile health. And like many Americans, her husband was not able to take paternity leave. The reality is that most people in the U.S. experience something similar. And yet, ironically, cultural attitudes towards new moms are merciless. The parenting double-standard aside, women come up against controversies at every turn. When, where, why, and how to feed a baby. Stay at home or go to work. Cloth diapers or disposable. Nothing is off limits. Even asking for and receiving help can be viewed as shameful, or exclusive to the wealthy. For Denise, this societal paradigm was unacceptable. Something had to change. And in 2010, within a year after having twins, she founded Let Mommy Sleep. A service dedicated to helping families navigate postpartum by stationing Registered Nurses and Newborn Care Providers in the home. Why RNs and NCPs? With the exception to licensed childcare centers, there is no certification or accreditation for watching a baby. Something Denise encourages every parent to consider when looking for care. It’s one of many reasons Let Mommy Sleep stands apart in the Baby Nurse industry. Every care provider is vaccinated, receives ongoing education, and is trained to stay awake through the night. What’s more, Let Mommy Sleep is the only agency to be awarded a government contract to teach newborn care. In fact, one of Denise’s greatest accomplishments was being invited to the White House to discuss national action on postpartum care. The first goal she hopes to realize in the next handful of years? Getting a 1-2 hour nurse visit within the first week of postpartum covered by insurance. In the meantime, Denise has been far from idle in making this a reality. In 2012, she founded Mission Sleep. A donation-funded, non-profit that provides free baby care for families with a parent who is deployed, wounded, or deceased. Her advice to entrepreneurs starting out: find a numbers person or hire an accountant. “Entrepreneurs have a ready, fire, aim mindset. With a ton of motivation. But at the end of the day, your business is going to live or die on your line items. Not just your excitement.” You can learn more about Denise, Let Mommy Sleep, and their services offered at: www.letmommysleep.com.
